Sizing machine



March 3, 1559 J. B. TRAYLOR SIZING MACHINE Filed Sept. 26, 1952 2Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. 6

INVENTOR.

John B. Traylor V ATTORNEYS Marh 3, 1959 J. B. TRAYLOR 2,875,895

SIZING MACHINE Filed Sept; 26. 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

John B. Troylor ATTORNEYS' face on whichis it positioned;

United States Patent SIZING MACHINE John B. Traylor, Denver, Colo.Application September 26, 1952, Serial No. 311,616

Claims. (Cl. 209-112) This invention relates to the separating ofdifferent size particles of materialtrue sizing into groupsregardless ofthe various specific gravities of the particles. By true sizing is meantseparation of particles in accordance with the particles volumetric sizeirrespective of their specific gravity.

One of the objects of my invention is to produce an improved method ofsizing material containing different size particles and a machine forcarrying out the method.

A further object is to produce a method of sizing particles of differentvolumetric size by giving to the material while on a surface having acertain inclination, a predetermined motion transmitted through thesurface so as to cause the particles to become positioned on the surfaceand particles of the same volumetric size will reach similar positions.I

Another object is to produce a sizing machine that can accuratelyseparate different size particles in a continuous manner by the movementof a surface onto which the material to be sized is continuously fed.

A stull further object is to separate difierent size particles byimparting to the particles a motion while being associated with asurface having a predetermined slope to the horizontal and extending inthe direction of the motion.

A more specific object is to produce a sizing machine which willefiiciently obtain separation of different size particles, regardless ofspecific gravity, by moving a sloping surface in a manner so as to causeparticles thereon to reach their respective zeniths or points of balancebetween the pull of gravity and the surface attraction, which dependsupon the volume, such a point being called the culminant point.

Another object of my invention is to so construct and position a slopingsurface and so move it that when material embodying different sizeparticles is placed thereon the particles of like volumes will be causedto pass off the surface at diiferent points and thus result inseparation of the particles into groups of like volume.

Other objects of my invention will become apparent from the followingdescription taken in connection with the accompanying drawing showingapparatus for accomplishing sizing of particle material and carrying outthe steps of the novel method involved.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side view of a sizing machine embodying the invention;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the sizing deck of the machine shownin Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 33 of Figure 1 showingthe slope toward the overflow edge;

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the motion of a particleresulting from the movement of a sur- Figure 6 is a strip showing howthe machine separates Patented Mar. 3, 1959 the material into differentsizes at the overflow edge, said strip being cellophane tape placedalong the over flow edge of the sizing deck to pick up the sizedmaterial;

Figure 7 is a view of another sizing deck of a different surface contourthat can be employed if desired;

Figure 8 is a view of still another sizing deck constructed to have aplurality of narrow surfaces of varying foci of curvature in cascadearrangement; Figure 9 is a view of yet another form of sizing deck alsohaving a cascade arrangement of narrow surfaces all of the same foci ofcurvature; and Figure 10 is a view of a machine embodying my inventionin which a plurality of successive fiat surfaces are employed to make aseparation of particles of material into groups, each having a range ofsizes.

Referring to the drawings in detail and first to Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4,there is disclosed a sizing machine which is capable of carrying out theimproved steps of the process for separating different size particles ofa mixture of fine material and is particularly etfective in making atrue separation of material which may vary from 14 mesh downward toextremely fine particles of 500 mesh and smaller. The particular machinedisclosed is capable of making a true volumetric sizing, regardless ofwhether the material being sized is homogeneous or non-homogeneous.

' The particular machine disclosed in Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4 is a testmodel and is shown by way of example only as a machine which is capableof carrying out the steps involved in my new process. The generalprinciples involved in the machine will be the same as those which willbe embodied in commercial machines whichmay be required to have largecapacities.

As shown in Figure 1, the machine has a supporting structure Scomprising an inclined member 10, a base member 11 and an upstandingmember 12. It will be noted that the inclined member 10 is mounted atits lower end on the base member and is supported at the other end ofthe base member by the upright member 12. The platform P is connected tothe supporting structure so it can be rapidly moved. The connectingstructure shown comprises a plurality of resilient bars 13 in the formof leaf spring members, all of equal length and of the same vibratorycharacteristics. One end of each bar is connected to the inclined member10 of the supporting structure and the other end is connected to theplatform P.

In order to move the platform P in the desired manner there is providedan electromagnet M, the armature 14 of which is connected by a bracket15 to be rigid with the platform and the coil 16 is carried by thesupport. The electromagnet can be operated either by alternating currentor a pulsating current. If the usual 60 cycle alternating current isused gized 3600 times per minute and each time it is energized it willpull the platform rearwardly a slight distance, thus flexing theresilient bars 13. When the magnet is deenergized during each cycle ofthe A. C. current, the

resilient bars will flex back to their advanced flexed condition andcarry the platform with them. Consequently,

the result of the operation of the magnet will be a conin presentcommercial use and is employed as a feeder or conveyor. In such feedersor conveyors the platform will carry a suitable chute and this platformwill be so arranged on the support as to be eitherhorizontal, or;

slightly inclined. With such feeders the motion of the the electromagnetwill be ener-' platform will cause material on the platform to be movedforwardly. This is brought about by having the platform pick upparticles and move them forward during the forward movement of theplatform as the magnet is deenergized. The platform, during this forwardmovement, is lifted slightly because the bars are returning from aslightly bowed condition to their advanced position. When the magnetbecomes energized and pulls the platform rearwardly the platform Willmove slightly downwardly as the resilient bars become bowed. Bothforward and rearward movements of the platform are very rapid andconsequently the platform falls away from beneath the particles during.such movement before the particles return to the surface of theplatform. Upon the next forward movement of the vibrating platform, theparticles will again be picked up by the surface and move slightlyforwardly and upwardly where again during rearward movement of theplatform surface under the action of the magnet the platform will dropaway from the particles and the particles will fall back on the platformsurface at a point slightly forward from where they were before theprevious forward movement took place. Some such type of movement isessential to prevent sliding of the particles, so that friction and theinfluence of gravity which would nullify true volumetric sizing will beprevented. Thus, this type of movement is close to being frictionless.

The movement of a particle is illustrated in the diagrammatic showing inFigure 5. The particle is indicated by a small sphere. If it is assumedthat it is resting on the platforms surface at a point X1, then as themagnet is energized and pulls the platform rearwardly, the platform willmove out from beneath the particle and the particle will then drop tothe point X2 where it will again be picked up by the forward movement ofthe platform surface and moved to the point X3. During the next rearwardmovement of the vibrating platform it will drop to the next point X4where it will again be picked up by the platform during forward movementand moved to the point X5. Again when the platform moves slightlyrearwardly during its next vibratory cycle and falls away from theparticle, the particle will drop to the point X6 where it will again bepicked up on the forward movement of the platform and be moved to thepoint X7. It is apparent from this diagrammatic showing, which is verymuch exaggerated, that the particle is caused to move forwardly as theplatform moves. If the platform surface is inclined upwardly theparticle will, be moved upwardly, providing, of course, that theinclination of the platform is. not greater than the culminant point ofthe particle being moved. The magnitude of such movements is usuallyrather small. For instance, in a machine constructed in accordance withthis invention, the distance between points X2 and X3, X4 and. X5, X6and X7, etc., wasv approximately in while. the distance between points;X1 and X2, X3 and X4, X5 and X6, etc., was approximately l in.

To bring about the proper motion of the platform and consequently amovement of the particles on the surface thereof, the line of pull ofthe magnet M must be at an angle to the surface upon which the materialisbeing conveyed. It should be noted that the angle which the line ofpull. of the magnet makes with the deck varies along, the. deck frompoint to point. This is essential.

To produce a sizing machine embodying my invention, I employ thevibrating platform P of the old and well known electromagnetic conveyoror feeder, although there are other forms of mechanical vibrationequally as effective. Mounted thereon in a particular manner is a curvedsizing d'eck which I have indicated by the letter D. This deck has suchcurvature so there will be increasing steepness from its lower end toits upperv end with the lower end' arranged to be substantiallyhorizontal and conditionedso as to receive the material which is to besized. I have found that the best curvature for this sizing deck shouldbe an arc of a circle or a curve approximating it,

although I desire it to be understood that my invention is not limitedto the deck being an arc of a circle as this curvature may change,depending upon the material which is to be sized. The curvature maydeviate from the arc of a circle and may even approach the curvature ofan elipse, a parabola or a hyperbola. I have found that good resultshave been obtained in the sizing material by having the deck and itsplatform so positioned that a tangent to the upper end of the curvedsizing deck will be approximately 57 degrees with the horizontal and atangent to the lower end of the sizing deck will beat an angle nearhorizontal, such as 8 degrees or below, and the platform P which isbeing vibrated by the magnet will be at an angle of approximately 27degrees with the. horizontal, depending upon the angle of mount of theflexing bars.

With this curved deck the material which will be fed onto the lower endof the deck will be caused to move up the inclined deck as the platformand deck are vibrated simultaneously. The movement of the particles upthe surface of the deck will be in the same manner as already mentionedin connection with the operating feeder or conveyor and illustrated bythe diagrammatic showing in Figure 5. As the particles of the mixturebeing sized are caused to move upwardly on the deck which has increasingsteepness, the particles will, in a short period of time, reach aculminant point on the deck. This culminant point is that point wherethe pull, of gravity is sufficient to balance the surface attractionbetween the deck and the particle. The particle. atjthis point simplyoverturns, rolls a short distance back down the slope, is picked up,moved forward, with this cycle repeating itself. If the material beingfed onto the sizing machine consists of mixed particles of 14 mesh orsmaller, it is known that the culminant points of the particles willvary in accordance with size. In other words, the particles which are 14mesh will begin to reach their culminant point close to the lower end ofthe curved deck and then as the particles diminish in size they willreach their individual culminant points progressively up the curveddeck. Each particle having the same size will reach the same point andthus the particles will be sep arated into their different sizesupwardly along the sizing deck. Surface attraction visibility alfectsall particles below a size approximating 14 mesh. Since the deck movesin a manner already described, it tends to keep the particles always inmotion with substantially no frictional drag between the particle andthe deck and therefore the particle is assured of reaching its culminantpoint. The type of motion described heretofore in Figure 5 is essentialto the successful operation of the machine. This motion introduceslittle or no frictional drag which nullifies the effect of specificgravity; a heavy particle will move just as far and just as fast as alight particleof like size. The result will be a true volumetric sizingfor all particles.

Of course, after sizing is accomplished by the vibrating movement of thecurved sizing deck, it is necessary to remove the particles from thedeck with each particle of the same size or approximately the same sizebeing removed in a manner so they will be in one group. I

accomplish this by an inclination of the sizing deck laterally towardone of its longitudinal edges, which edge I designate as the overflowlip and indicate such by the letter L in the drawings. The inclinationof the sizing deck should be such that each particle will reach itsculminant point before it is caused to move over the overflow lip. Theinclination angle may vary, depending upon what material is being sized.I have found, however, that a reasonably good angle for the inclinationof the deck is around 5 degrees, but this may vary from horizontal up toapproximately 10 degrees for different kinds of material. If theinclination is too great, Stratification of the material being sized maynot take place, and if the inclination is too small there may bebunching of the material and not the desired true sizing. The rate atthe high corner of the bottom thereof. I accomplish this feeding andcontrol by employing an ordinary vibration feeder in the form of atrough T. This trough, shown in Figures 1, 2 and 4, is mounted free ofthe sizing deck and moves laterally of the deck that is at right anglesto the direction of vibration of the deck. It is inclined toward thesizing deck and the surface of-the deck on which the material is fed ispreferably curved slightly, as shown in Figure 4. The purpose of thetrough is to provide for a rough sizing as the material goes onto thedeck. When the particles fall onto the deck, the larger size particlesroll down against the baffle wall W at the lower end of the deck.

With the inclination of the deck D being such as to cause the materialto move to and over the overflow lip L throughout its length and inaccordance with the size, the material can be separated by merelyplacing catcher chutes along this edge of the deck. These chutes caneither be attached to the deck or arranged to be slightly below andunderneath the edge of the deck so that the particles coming over thelip will fall into the chutes. These chutes are indicated in Figures 1and 2 by the letter C, there being four in number in the particularmachine illustrated. If material is fed to the deck having intermixedparticles ranging down from 14 mesh, then with these chutes the materialwill be separated into four groups. The sizes in this group will vary inaccordance with the length of the chute opening along the sizing deck.If a closer grouping of particle size is desired, the chutes can beincreased in number with shorter lengths along the overflow lip. In someinstances it might be desired to separate material into two groups, suchas one group from 14 mesh to 100 mesh and another group including'everything below 100 mesh. In such case, only two chutes would berequired and the separating wall between the two chutes at the lip wouldbe at the point where particles of 100 mesh size reach their culminantpoint. 1

Tests have shown that a sizing machine embodying my inventionaccomplishes true sizing and this sizing is not in any way affected bydifferent specific gravities of the material being sized or the factthat the material may be non-homogeneous.

In Figure 6 there is illustrated in strip form the results accomplishedby the sizing machine in separating the particlesof different size. Itwill be noted that the particles vary progressively down in size fromthe largest size to the very finest size. The illustrated strip and thesized material was obtained by taking a strip of cellophane tape andpressing it down adjacent the overflow lip after the sizing deck hadbeen vibrated sufficiently to accomplish the sizing.

Some material which may be sized by the machine may not move toward theoverflow lip throughout its entire length in the desired manner, if thesizing deck has a uniform inclination toward the overflow lip. In someinstances, with a uniform inclination, the coarse material will moverapidly enough toward the lip, but not the finer material. To overcomethis objection, a sizing deck of the type shown in Figure 7 could beemployed. This deck is indicated by the letter D It has a single smoothsurface and the desired increase in steepness from one end to the other.The inclination of the surface of the sizing deck toward the overflowlip, however, is not uniform through the length of the sizing deck. Thebottom portion of the deck will have a low inclination angle and thesurface of the deck from there toward the steepest end will have agradual increase in inclination toward the overflow lip. The surface ofthe deck from the back edge toward the overflow lip may be on a straightline or it canfhave a slight curvature.

With certain materials it may also be desirable to employ a sizing deckwhich has a cascade arrangement. Such a cascade arrangement may be foundto be very effective in increasing the capacity of the machine forcertain material. This is accomplished as a result of the cascadearrangement breaking up lumps and eliminating any tendency towardbunching. The breaking up of lumps occurs as the material cascades fromone deck to another. This bunching will occur when too many finescollect together and as a result such fines carry coarser particlesalong with the bunched fines, thus cascading breaks up the bunches. Onetype of a cascade form of deck is shown in Figure 8 wherein the deck Dcomprises a plurality of narrow deck portions 17, 18 and 19. Each deckportion will have a different radius of curvature in its longitudinaldirection, with the deck portion having the shortest radius of curvatureat the top and the one with the longest radius of curvature at thebottom and with the intermediate deck positions having radii ofcurvature progressively increasing from the top portion to the bottomportion. The deck portions may be of the same width or they may be ofvarying widths. In Figure 8 the deck portions are shown of increasinglygreater widths from the top to the bottom. Each deck portion will have adesirable inclination toward the final overflow lip L of the bottom deckportion. With this type of deck the fines will be more closely groupedtogether and not fully separated because their culminant points will becloser together. The fines will thus be separated in the group from thecoarse material and then pass on to the second deck portion where theywill be further separated. When they reach the lower deck por tion acomplete sizing will take place before they pass over the overflow lip.If the material being sized contains a larger percentage of coarsermaterial than fine material, the fine material can be quickly separatedfrom the coarse material and this coarse material quickly sized whilethe smaller volume of finer material progressively moves from one deckto the other and is more slowly sized. In this cascade arrangement shownin Figure 8, the fines are moved out from the coarser material in afairly rapid manner, thus increasing the capacity of the machine.

In Figure 9 still another type of cascade deck is disclosed and suchdeck is indicated by the letter D In this cascade type of deck there area plurality of deck portions 20, 21, 22 and 22 arranged as a cascade.All of the deck portions will have substantially the same radius ofcurvature, diflering only in the thickness of the deck portions. Alldeck portions are relatively narrow and if desired the upper deckportion can be the narrowest and then the portions progressivelyincrease in width to the lower deck portion. With this arrangement eachdeck portion will tend to perform a true sizing, but due to thenarrowness of the decks final true sizing will not be accomplished onthe upper deck portions. In this type of cascade deck, the deck portionscan be made fairly short so the fines can move over the ends of the deckportions and never reach any culminant point. The deck is particularlyuseful in increasing capacity as it breaks up the material rapidly andthus prevents fines being occluded in coarser material where it is notnecessary to have the fines below a certain mesh to be further sized.All of these fines will go over the top into a chute and comprise onegroup, whereas larger sizes will be truly sized and finally passed overthe overflow lip L at the lower edge of the lower deck portion.

If it should be desired to employ my invention in a machine which needonly size the material in groups of sizes as, for example, in one groupbetween 48 mesh upward, another group between 48 mesh and mesh, a

third group between 150 mesh and 200 mesh and the remainder in a fourthgroup, then a machine such as that shown in Figure 10 can be employed.wherein only flatsizing decks in series are. used. In. this machinethere are three sizing decks, D D and. D mounted on the movable platformP. The three decks are, inclined toward a side edge to provide theoverflow lips. The last or higher deck is so formed that all the finesbelow 200 mesh go over the top edge into a chute 24. The first flatsizing deck D is inclined upwardly at the required angle so that all theparticles above 48 mesh will move to the side lip edge and the remainingsmaller particles will flow over the top edge into the next sizing deckD in the series. This next deck is mounted on the platformat a steeperangle, such as being at an angle required to cause the particles between48 mesh and 150 mesh to move to the edge overflow lip and the remainderto go. over the top edge onto the bottom of the last deck D The lastdeck is mounted at a steeper angle than the deck D and its angle may besuch that all particles below 200 mesh will move to the side lip and theremaining fines will go over the top edge into chute 24. All particles.going over the lower side lips of the three decks can fall into suitablechutes, not shown, WhlClLWlll be similar to the chute C shown in Figures1 and 2. The number of sizing decks in the series can be increased ordecreased and their angles of inclination selected inorder to producethe desired group sizing, as is believed to be obvious.

In the machine of Figure 10, it will be seen that-the same principles ofseparation are involved. Instead of having an infinite number ofdifferently inclined surfaces on one curvedsizing deck, havingcontinuously increasing steepness as in the machine of Figures 1 and 2,there are selected a limited number of different inclined surfaces onlywith each surface being flat. All particles having a .culminant pointwhich is not reached on one fiat inclined surface go over to the next.The fines which have no deck on which they can reach a culminant pointgo over the top edge of the last deck and into the final chute 24.Besides the modifications already described, it is believed to beobvious other modifications can be made without departing from the scopeof my invention and still employ the novel steps of the method involved.In working on different materials it may be necessary to change the typeof curvature of the sizing deck or a portion thereof, to change theinclination of a sizing deck so that it is either uniform throughout itslength or so it varies from one end to the other. Changes may also berequired so the best sizing will be accomplished for some particularrate of feed. Tests also show that the sizing deck may be varied eitheras to curvature from one end to the other or as to inclination or bothWhere it is found that sizing is better accomplished with one particularintensity of vibratory motion'than some other particular intensity, orwhere certain group sizing may be desired.

With my improved sizing machine it is possible to accomplish any desiredtype of sizing that is needed. The truesizing of particles from one sizeon down to very small sizes can be accomplished, or the particles in thematerial can be placed into any desired grouping. Since the sizing isnot dependent upon the specific gravity of the particles in the materialor the type of material involved, whether homogeneous ornon-homogeneous, it is readily apparent that the sizing-machine willhave many commercial uses. The. sizing machine can be. used with otherknown methods of sizing material, particularly those employing screens.Coarse material above 14 mesh can be readily and quite efficiently sizedby use of screens, but particles below this size cannot be easily andcheaply separated, either by screening or by elutriation, as these twolatter methods or combinations thereof are not too efficient and arecostly. it is well known that fine screens clog up and as forelutriation, it is best for sizing homogeneous materials. After usingother sizing methods to take out coarse particles, my sizing machine canbe employed on the finer particles.

Being aware of the many changes, variations, combinations andmodifications in the sizing decks employed and their manner ofvibrations, together with variations in the steps of the sizing method,all without departing from the fundamental principles of my invention,it is not intended that the scope of the invention be limited in anymanner except in accordance with the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A machine for volumetrically sizing particles of approximately 10mesh and less and which have difierent volumetric sizes and may differin specific gravity, comprising a surface positioned so as to extendupwardly longitudinally with successive portions of the surfaceincreasing in steepness from the rear to the front and substantially allportions of the surface inclined laterallyand downwardly toward onelateral edge; means for supporting said surface so as to be movablelongitudinally in opposite directions and have an up and down movementalong a general line inclined to the horizontal and upwardly from therear to the front, said surface extending upwardly at least to a pointat which a tangent to said surface is approximately parallel to saidgeneral line of movement; means for feeding a succession of saidparticles onto the rear of said surface; means for imparting to saidsurface a rapid succession of impulses in a rearward direction and alonga line inclined at an angle to the horizontal at least as great as thegeneral line ofmovement of said surface; means for imparting to saidsurface a succession of impulses in a forward direction and generallyopposite to said rearward impulses, said surface also moving downwardlyrelative to said general line during rearward movement and upwardlyrelative to said general line during forward movement; said particlesbeing moved upwardly along said surface and to said lower lateral edgeby the successive impacts of the forward and rearward movements of saidsurface whereby they are adapted to be collected adjacent said one sideedge.

2. A sizing machine for material of intermixed particles of differentvolumetric size comprising sizing deck. means provided from the lowerend thereof to the upper end thereof with sizing surface meansconstructed and mounted to have different and increasing angles ofinclination from the lower end to the upper end and to have a slopetoward one side edge, means for supporting said surface means so as tobe movable longitudinally in opposite directions and have an up and downmovement along a general line inclined to the horizontal, said surfacemeans extending upwardly at least to a terminal point at which a tangentto said surface means is approximately parallel to said general line ofmovement, means for feeding a succession of said particles onto the deckmeans at the lower end thereof, means for reciprocating said deck andsurface means along said general line whereby the particles of likevolumetric size will move up the surface to like culminant points, saidparticles being moved upwardly on the surface and to said side edge bymovement of said surface in the opposite directions whereby they areadapted to be collected adjacent said one side edge.

3. A sizing machine as defined in claim 2 wherein the feeding meansincludes an inclined surface onto which material is fed and mounted tomove independent of the deck means with its direction of inclinationlateral to the direction of longitudinal movements of the deck means.

4. A sizing machine as defined in claim 2 wherein the slope in thesurface means gradually increases from the lower end to the upper end.

5. A sizing machine as defined in claim 2 wherein the sizing surfacemeans includes a cascade arrangement of curved surfaces.

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10 Payne Oct. 29, 1918 Steele Apr. 28, 1942 FOREIGN PATENTS Austria Feb.1, 1900 Great Britain May 19, 1949

